How to Measure for Cabinet Doors

New cabinet doors -- or even old cabinet doors that have been repainted or restained -- can add a new dimension and greatly enhance the aesthetic value of a room. You cannot just start attaching the doors willy-nilly, however, as that is a good way to wind up with doors of the wrong size, or doors that cannot open fully because you forgot to take into account furnishings near the cabinet itself. These and others are reasons why you have to measure your cabinet before you attach the doors.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pen or pencil
• Paper

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Place your tape measure against the top of the cabinet opening and measure all the way down to the bottom of the opening. Jot down the number to the nearest 1/8 inch on your paper.

   • 2

     Repeat step one, but measure from side to side instead of top to bottom.

   • 3

     Hook the tape measure onto the outer edge of the cabinet opening -- the edge that will hold the hinges -- and make sure that there is at least 5/8 inch of clearance in the direction the door will open.

   • 4

     Add 1 inch to both the height and width measurements. This allows the cabinets an extra 1/2 inch of overlap on all sides.